High-power Christian radio gets CRTC nod
BELLEVILLE, ON�"A brand new Christian radio station has the green light, receiving approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) February 28.
The CRTC received 974 letters supporting the application from United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) who are now laying the groundwork for the launch of a high-power Christian music station in Belleville, Ontario.
The level of support for the station was so high the CRTC opted not to post every intervention on its Web site as it does frequently. The only dissenting voice in the federal regulator's proceedings came from Belleville's mainstream station.
The new station will occupy 102.3 on the FM dial although its official name has yet to be released. It will play contemporary Christian music, praise and worship and Christian talk radio.
The station hopes to launch before the end of 2003, although setting a date hinges on how quickly the international non-profit group can raise the $1.1 million required to pay set-up costs and for the first year on the air.
The project's price tag includes the cost of hiring broadcasters, copywriters, reporters and administrators, just a few of the roles UCB's general manager Gary Hoogvliet says have been calculated into the estimate.
"We want to put to air a professional Christian station and to make it available by satellite across Canada," says Hoogvliet. "Christian radio makes a difference to people. I've seen that in New Zealand, Australia, England and the United States and I know that we will see it in Belleville."
Hoogvliet speaks with the passion of personal experience about the spiritual impact of Christian radio. "Christian radio turned my life around. I want to see God do that in others," he says.
After hearing a program on a Christian station years ago, Hoogvliet renewed his relationship with God and now believes the Holy Spirit can use Christian radio to "reach and speak to people's hearts."
Meanwhile, the CRTC also granted Trust Communications Ministries a licence to set-up a "repeater" transmitter in Peterborough, Ontario that will operate on the frequency 89.3 FM. The new low-power transmitter will relay the broadcasts of CJLF FM in Barrie to Peterborough residents.
Another low power Christian FM station was approved for Ontario's Way of Life Broadcasting group in Dryden.
The addition of two new stations and one "repeater" to Ontario's dial brings the total number of full-time Christian stations in all of Canada to 23, 11 of which are "repeaters" that re-broadcast one city's station in another city or region.
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